Frequently Asked Questions

Yes you are welcome to change your day of travel providing we have availability. There are no fees to change dates.

 

Please check-in at the Quicksilver reservations counter inside the Port Douglas Port Douglas Marina. Check-in begins from 9:15am for
vessel boarding at 9:30am. Quicksilver departs the marina at 10am.

Our staff will issue you with your boarding pass and direct you to our vessel.

We operate year-round, everyday is a holiday! Generally you will find the warm air and water temperatures in the tropics (see our average temperatures charts) make for comfortable conditions year-round for water activities.

If you are visiting between the months of May to October, while certainly not guaranteed, there is the added bonus of potential whale sightings on the journey to and from the reef. Humpback whales regularly migrate from Antarctic waters every winter to the warmer waters of the Great Barrier Reef. They are most commonly sighted from June to September. The smaller Minke Whales can often be seen at Agincourt Reef from as early as April but from our experience, the most common sightings occur from June to July.

Agincourt Reef is 72km NE of Port Douglas. Travelling time aboard our state-of-the-art wavepiercer catamaran from Port Douglas to Agincourt Reef is 90 minutes.

Bring along a towel, sunscreen (We recommend marine friendly sunscreen), hat, swimwear and camera to capture your memories. Limited underwater digital cameras are available to hire onboard. A professional photographic service is also available for you to purchase photos of your day. For optional activities or onboard purchases like souvenirs or drinks from the bar, bring along your credit card or some cash.
Please note: Drones are not permitted.

Generally at the hotel reception unless otherwise advised by hotel staff or Quicksilver.

We recommend you bring your own towel. We do have some towels for hire however we have limited stock and cannot guarantee availability.

Yes our daily buffet lunch provides food options for vegetarians. Our meals are prepared daily by our Catering Department utilising local produce wherever possible. All menu options are labelled with ingredients lists. Please contact us directly if you have specific dietary needs.

Due to government regulations and comfort of all passengers, smoking is not permitted on board any of our vessels. Smoking is only permitted in designated areas at the outer reef platform and island. Please ensure cigarette butts are disposed of responsibly in the receptacles provided.

We recommend our Outer Reef cruise and our Quicksilver VIII vessel as the most suitable for wheelchair passengers. At the Outer Barrier Reef (Agincourt Reef) there are ramp facilities from our vessel to our platform, and a wheelchair access toilet on the vessel.

 

However access to the underwater observatory, snorkel platforms and our semi-submersible vessels is by stairs only. For guests confined to a wheelchair, our specially designed water powered lift allows for easy access into the snorkel pool. This is available only at our Agincourt 3 platform. We recommend guests call us to discuss arrangements prior to travel.

The warm waters of Tropical North Queensland range in temperature from 22-29 Celsius (75-85 Fahrenheit) and make for year round comfort for water activities.

As a guide, average water temperatures in our region are:

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average ocean water temp.(C)	29	29	28	26	26	25	24	22	23	26	26	27
Average ocean water temp.(F)	85	85	83	79	79	77	75	72	73	79	79	81

Quicksilver has 3 day forecasts and we also get weather updates every morning from the Bureau of Meteorology as well as directly from our crew stationed at Agincourt Reef. Guests can call our office from 6am daily onwards for an update. You can also visit the weather page on our website to see the latest trends and extensive forecast.

 

As a guide, average air temperatures in the Cairns and Port Douglas region are:

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average daily max air temp. (C)	31.8	31.5	30.7	29.3	27.6	25.9	25.6	26.4	27.9	29.7	30.8	31.8
Average daily max air temp. (F)	89	89	87	85	82	79	78	79	82	85	87	89

Providing we have availability you are welcome to change dates of your cruise. On very rare occasions cruise services can be subject to the effect of weather. Should a cruise not operate for any reason, you will be offered an alternative day or a refund authorised.

Very rarely. However as we are located in a tropical region, we can experience the effects of a seasonal tropical cyclone and would therefore cancel our operation. This is not common.

Yes, there is no reserved seating and you are free to sit where you prefer. It’s up to your personal preference whether you would like to sit inside in the air-conditioned cabins, on the outside decks undercover or in the sun.

Hopefully not. Our wavepiercer catamaran cruise to the Outer Reef provides the smoothest possible ride in all sea conditions. Where there is motion whether in a car, bus, plane or boat, some people will suffer from motion sickness. Motion sickness medication is available onboard for purchase. Ginger tablets are available as a natural alternative motion sickness medication on a complimentary basis. To be effective, motion sickness medications should be taken immediately on boarding prior to travel.

We do not have lockers however we do have safety bags which can be used for smaller items like wallets, passports, jewellery and small cameras. This is at no cost and can be accessed by checking with our bar staff.

Life jackets are onboard for emergency use only. Flotation/buoyancy vests are supplied free of charge on the platform for your use if required.

Yes we take Visa, Mastercard & Amex

Yes, toilets are found at the rear of the boat. Fresh water showers and change rooms are found on the platform.

With two levels at 47.5m in length and 23.4m wide, our reef activity platform is permanently moored in a sheltered lagoon at Agincourt Reef. It is the largest and most spacious platform on the Great Barrier Reef. An important point to consider when choosing your reef cruise is the comfort of your day.

 

Together our large stable catamaran and platform provide the most passenger space of any reef cruise. In fact on an average day there will be more than two seats for every person onboard and if you’re into space, about 8m2 per passenger!

At the outer reef activity platform, over two thirds of the platform is shaded. You can also sit inside the vessel’s air-conditioned cabins throughout the day.

 

At the outer reef activity platform, over two thirds of the platform is shaded. You can also sit inside the vessel’s air-conditioned cabins throughout the day.

Some of the facilities on the platform include undercover tables and seating, change rooms and freshwater showers, buffet servery, underwater observatory, semi-submersibles, snorkelling platforms, specially designed introductory dive areas and carpeted sundeck. The vessel alongside also provides air-conditioned comfort, a licenced bar as well as toilets and change room facilities. Click here for our platform page.

At certain times of the year, jellyfish, commonly called marine stingers, can affect the seas of Northern Australia. Most jellyfish are harmless to man, however certain varieties may cause a serious reaction. Incidents involving serious marine stings in this area are extremely rare. Quicksilver’s crew are conscious of the danger of marine stingers and will take appropriate steps to ensure your protection if they believe conditions are such that there is a possibility of encountering these creatures. Lycra suits are available to protect guests from the sun and to reduce the possibility of stings and irritations.

Yes. Our largest lycra suit is XXL and largest fin is size 13. Our smallest lycra suit is size 2. We have small snorkels and masks for toddlers, our smallest fins are size 1-3.

Standard masks magnify objects underwater by 25%. However prescription masks are also available ranging from -2 to -8 in strength. Prescription masks are available at no extra charge. To obtain one of these masks, see our safety supervisors on the snorkelling platform.

No. We do not recommend contact lenses are worn as water may get into the mask. Glasses cannot be worn under the masks however standard masks do magnify objects. For prescription masks, see the safety supervisors on the snorkelling platform.

Yes, the snorkelling platforms are situated right on the waterline and there are bench seats on the snorkelling platform where you can put on your fins, mask and snorkel before entering the water.

Quicksilver’s wavepiercer boards at 9:30am for 10:00am departure from the Port Douglas Marina Port Douglas. The vessel returns to Port Douglas at 4:30pm.

We spend 3½ hours at the reef.

The maximum depth around the platform at Agincourt Reef is approximately 8-9 metres.

Yes, but they are harmless white tip reef sharks which only grow to a length of approximately 5 feet. If you are lucky to see one, don’t be frightened as they are very timid.

The minimum age for diving is 12 years. No experience is necessary for an Introductory scuba dive, however certain medical conditions or medications may preclude some people from diving. Please contact us directly if you require more information.

Dives can go up to 15m deep

Our Wavepiercer catamarans and reef platforms are pram-friendly with ample room on the boat and ramped areas on the platform.

Yes, infants and children are welcome however we recommend they are supervised and are accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. We suggest buoyancy vests are worn and these are available free of charge. Noodles/flotation devices are also available. There are many activities for children and families to enjoy together at the Outer Reef.

Our smallest lycra suit is size 2. We have small snorkel & masks for toddlers, our smallest fins are size 1-3.

We do not have babysitting facilities onboard. Our crew can help you schedule separate dive times to ensure your child is always supervised.